Systematic review and meta‐analyses of randomized control trials of the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for homeless adults

• Published in: Journal of advanced nursing Vol. 76; no. 3; pp. 773 - 786
• Main Authors: Hyun, Myungsun, Bae, Sun Hyoung, Noh, Dabok
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.03.2020
• Subjects: Adults; Analysis; Anxiety; Clinical trials; Cognitive behavioral therapy; Cognitive-behavioral factors; Health behavior; Health status; Homeless people; homelessness; Intervention; literature review; Medical research; Mental health; Meta-analysis; Nursing; Psychosocial factors; Psychosocial intervention; psychosocial outcomes; Relaxation; Systematic review; anxiety; mental health; meta-analysis; nursing; psychosocial intervention; homelessness; literature review; psychosocial outcomes; systematic review
• ISSN: 0309-2402; 1365-2648
• DOI: 10.1111/jan.14275

Aims To evaluate the effect of psychosocial interventions for homeless adults on their psychosocial outcomes. Design A systematic review and meta‐analyses were performed for critical appraisal and synthesis of the included studies. Data sources A systematic search of studies published before 10 September 2018 was performed using PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and CINAHL. Review methods The review included randomized controlled trials conducting psychosocial interventions and assessing psychosocial outcomes for homeless adults. After systematically describing study and intervention characteristics, we conducted meta‐analyses by the type of outcome and subgroup meta‐analyses by the type of intervention and outcome. Fourteen studies were included in this review and 11 were included in the meta‐analyses. Results A significant effect of psychosocial interventions in reducing anxiety and enhancing mental health status among homeless adults was noted. Conclusion The meta‐analyses showed that psychosocial interventions may reduce anxiety and enhance the mental health status of homeless people. Specifically, we suggest that relaxation response training may be effective in improving anxiety and mental health status and cognitive behavioural therapy may reduce anxiety. Impact Although psychosocial interventions for homeless persons have been implemented for a decade, their impact for psychosocial outcomes among homeless adults has not been evaluated. This review suggest that psychosocial interventions may improve anxiety and mental health status among homeless adults. The findings of the present study may provide directions for developing psychosocial interventions to help vulnerable homeless adults in managing psychological outcomes. 目的 评价对无家可归的成年人进行社会心理干预对其社会心理结果的影响。 设计 针对所纳入的研究展开系统评估与荟萃分析,以便进行严格评价和综合汇总。 数据来源 通过PubMed、Cochrane图书馆、EMBASE、PsycINFO和CINAHL数据库对2018年9月10日之前发表的研究文献进行系统检索。 评估方法 本项评估包括对无家可归的成年人进行社会心理干预,评估社会心理结果的随机对照试验。在对研究和干预特征进行系统性描述之后,我们开展了基于结果类型的荟萃分析以及基于干预类型和结果的亚组荟萃分析。本项评估共纳入14项研究,其中有11项纳入荟萃分析。 结果 社会心理干预措施对减轻无家可归的成年人的焦虑,增强其心理健康具有显著效果。 结论 荟萃分析表明,社会心理干预措施可减轻无家可归者的焦虑情绪,改善其心理健康状况。具体而言,我们认为放松反应训练可有效地改善焦虑和心理健康状况,同时认知行为疗法也有助于缓解焦虑。 影响 虽然针对无家可归者的社会心理干预措施已有十年的实施经验,但尚未就其对无家可归的成年人的社会心理结果的影响开展评估研究工作。本项评估表明,社会心理干预可改善无家可归的成年人的焦虑情绪和心理健康状况。本项研究发现可为制定社会心理干预措施提供方向,以帮助无家可归的弱势成年人群体改善其心理状况。